First Responders Ltr to Preside
National League of
Cities
December 7, 2002
Dear Delegates:
We need your help to secure funding for America's first responders in our cities
and towns and to protect our other legislative priorities.
I ask each of you to send a letter to President Bush by December 16, 2002,
urging him to provide funding to our police, fire, emergency medical
personnel and other first responders. Please enclose badges fi:om your city's first
responder personnel as a reminder of the important role first responders play in
every city and town in America.
Please send copies of your letter to Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Speaker of
the House Dennis Hastert, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, House Minority
Whip Nancy Pelosi, and your own Senators and Representative in Congress. The
attached page contains a sample letter to the President and addresses for the White
House and Congressional leaders.
Also, please let the National League of Cities know what you have done so we
can make sure this issue receives the attention it deserces. Send copies of your
letter to NLC along with a photo of you and your first responders holding the
badges. If you can, please also send a badge to NLC so we can display your badges
in Washington as we push for first responder funding. I would also request that
each of you issue press statements to your local media advising them of our action:
Letters, photos, and badges should be sent to the National League of Cities; 1301
Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC, 20024 by December 31 to the attention of
John Pionke.
Sincerely,
John DeStefano, Jr.
President
Mayor, New Haven, Connecticut
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City Hall
50 West 13th Slzeet
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
December 30, 2002
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Mr. President:
I am writing to express my deep concern that funding for first responders promised
nearly a year ago has still not been provided to America's cities, towns and villages. As
you know, the nation's cities and towns have carried the burden for homeland security
during the 15 months since the September 11 attacks, with only the promise of federal
support.
At the recent National League of Cities conference in Salt Lake City, city leaders from
across the country voiced their deep disappointment with the absence of federal funding
for police, firefighters and emergency response staff.
I commend your leadership in our fight against terrorism abroad and appreciate your
genuine commitment to helping police, firefighters and other first responders in the
United States who protect our citizens.
Now I ask that you again use your leadership to get much needed and overdue funds to
the first responders in the nation's cities and towns. I ask that you secure by March 1,
2003, the $3.5 billion in first responder funding proposed earlier this year. in seeking
your support, I also want to emphasize that the well being of families in America
requires that homeland security funds not come at the expense of reducing
appropriations in other key areas--public safety, crime prevention, transportation and
other key priorities for cities.
Sincerely,
Terrance M. Duggan
Mayor
TMD:jh
cc: Senator Charles Grassley
Senator Tom Harkin
Representative Jim Nussle
Terrance M. Duggan
Mayor
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City Hall, 50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
Congressman Jim Nussle
303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1502
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City Hall, 50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
Senator Tom Harkin
United States Senate
731 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City I-IalI, 50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001~864
The President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City HaLl. 50 West 13th Street
Office of the Mayor
and City Council
City Hall, 50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 520014864
Senator Charles Grassley
United States Senate
135 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1501